Looking
for an extraordinary night out? How about
40 of them at our top restaurant picks in
the U.S.? As places to invest in serious
and breathtaking adventures in food,
they're just the tip of the iceberg...
but oh, what a peak they make.

While
we've listed our selections by
restaurant, we're highlighting chefs
because, to us, food always comes first.
Still, we would like to applaud the fine
work that the restaurants' managers,
sommeliers and staffs contribute each
night, for without them no chef could
succeed.

Naturally,
many good chefs have been omitted, and we
apologize for that. Simply put, these are
the restaurants that suit our tastes.
Certainly we have prejudices, as any
gourmet does, and as that will always be
the case, we reserve the right to be
subjective, as well as honest and candid.
Dining is an emotional endeavor, after
all, not a scientific process. So read on
and prepare to have your passions
roused.